Note: Before preparing or distributing any food in the classroom, make sure you are aware of children's allergies or dietary restrictions, and caution children about choking hazards.
You have probably heard of the activity in which students grab a handful of M&Ms; during introduction time, they must share a fact about themselves for each M&M they took. This activity offers a slight twist on that one. In this case, the students might take the M&Ms, or the teacher might hand them out. But the M&Ms are color coded! Each M&M refers to a special topic that the students will need to talk about as they introduce themselves to their classmates. For example, for each M&M that is red students might have to share a hobby they enjoy; for each brown M&M, students might tell about a favorite book; for each green M&M students might tell about a quality they would like in a friend. Other possible topics might include favorite places students have visited or would love to visit, foods they like, favorite school subjects, goals in life, etc. You might even involve students in creating the list of topics. You might be the first to model the introduction process so students know what is expected of them. After the introductions, students might write a brief introduction to themselves that could be included in a book about the students in the class. Of course, you can end the activity by eating the M&Ms! Gary Dorobiala, Maryvale Intermediate School, Cheektowaga, New York
You have probably heard of the activity in which students grab a handful of M&Ms; during introduction time, they must share a fact about themselves for each M&M they took. This activity offers a slight twist on that one. In this case, the students might take the M&Ms, or the teacher might hand them out. But the M&Ms are color coded! Each M&M refers to a special topic that the students will need to talk about as they introduce themselves to their classmates. For example, for each M&M that is red students might have to share a hobby they enjoy; for each brown M&M, students might tell about a favorite book; for each green M&M students might tell about a quality they would like in a friend. Other possible topics might include favorite places students have visited or would love to visit, foods they like, favorite school subjects, goals in life, etc. You might even involve students in creating the list of topics. You might be the first to model the introduction process so students know what is expected of them. After the introductions, students might write a brief introduction to themselves that could be included in a book about the students in the class. Of course, you can end the activity by eating the M&Ms!
Gary Dorobiala, Maryvale Intermediate School, Cheektowaga, New York